Director of Academic Partnerships & Fellowships (Volunteer)

About the role

The Director of Academic Partnerships & Fellowships serves as the leader responsible for developing and managing relationships with universities, faculty members, researchers, academic centers, and scholarly institutions. This role oversees MAP's academic partnership strategy, research fellowship programs, visiting scholar initiatives, faculty collaborations, and university engagement efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead MAP's academic partnership strategy
• Establish relationships with universities, colleges, and research institutions
• Identify opportunities for collaborative research and knowledge exchange
• Strengthen MAP's visibility within academic communities
• Expand institutional partnerships that advance organizational goals
• Build relationships with faculty members, researchers, and academic leaders
• Support collaborative research initiatives and special projects
• Facilitate connections between MAP and subject matter experts
• Identify opportunities for academic engagement and consultation
• Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities
• Develop and oversee research fellowship programs
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of fellows
• Create meaningful fellowship experiences aligned with MAP's mission
• Coordinate fellowship projects and deliverables
• Strengthen opportunities for student and professional researchers
• Establish and manage visiting scholar initiatives
• Engage academic experts and practitioners in research and thought leadership activities
• Care for scholar presentations, discussions, and collaborative projects
• Promote knowledge-sharing opportunities across the organization
• Expand MAP's network of academic advisors and contributors
• Support collaborative research projects involving academic partners
• Facilitate dissemination of research findings and insights
• Promote learning opportunities between practitioners and researchers
• Strengthen MAP's research ecosystem and thought leadership efforts
• Support scholarly publications and presentations when appropriate
• Partner with PromiseMeasure on research and evaluation initiatives
• Collaborate with PromisePublic on policy and advocacy research
• Support PromiseLearning educational partnerships and research opportunities
• Work with leadership to identify strategic academic collaborations
• Align partnership efforts with organizational priorities

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, research administration, nonprofit leadership, university relations, academic partnerships, or related fields
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience working with faculty, researchers, or academic institutions
• Excellent communication and partnership development abilities
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Passion for research, education, and community impact

Benefits

This role helps ensure that MAP remains connected to emerging research, academic expertise, and future leaders committed to improving outcomes for children and families.

Potential Reporting Structure

• Partnership Managers
• Fellowship Coordinators
• University Relations Coordinators
• Academic Engagement Specialists
• Research Fellowship Associates
• Visiting Scholar Program Coordinators